Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs Game Guide: Starters, Injuries, & Matchups

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a playoff appearance last season, and the Detroit Lions are trying to claw their way to the postseason this year. While the Lions 2011 campaign started off with a big road win, the Chiefs suffered their worst season-opening loss in franchise history.

If the Lions want to make the playoffs out of a brutal NFC North division, they'll have to take every advantage of struggling opponents like the Chiefs. If the Chiefs want to get back to the playoffs, they'll have to right the ship quickly.

Lions Projected Starters

QB: Matthew Stafford

RB: Jahvid Best

WR: Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson

TE: Brandon Pettigrew, Tony Scheffler

LT: Jeff Backus

LG: Rob Sims

C: Dominic Raiola

RG: Stephen Peterman

RT: Corey Hilliard*

DE: Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril

DT: Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams

OLB: Justin Durant, DeAndre Levy

MLB: Stephen Tulloch

CB: Chris Houston, Eric Wright

S: Louis Delmas, Amari Spievey

Chiefs Projected Starters

QB: Matt Cassel

RB: Jamaal Charles

WR: Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston

LT: Branden Albert

LG: Ryan Lilja

C: Casey Wiegmann

RG: Jon Asamoa

RT: Barry Richardson

TE: Leonard Pope

DE: Tyson Jackson, Glenn Dorsey

NT: Kelly Gregg

SLB: Quincy Black

LOLB: Justin Houston

LILB: Jovan Belcher

RILB: Derrick Johnson

ROLB: Tamba Hali

CB: Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr

SS: Jon McGraw

FS: Kendrick Lewis

Lions Injury Report

S Louis Delmas: Hip, Limited Participation on Friday, Questionable
DT Nick Fairley: Foot, Out
T Jason Fox: Foot, Out
WR Calvin Johnson: Ankle, Limited Participation on Friday, Questionable
CB Alphonso Smith: Foot, Out
WR Maurice Stovall: Hand, Questionable

Going by the Lions' official report, they won't be missing any key cogs. Delmas and Johnson should play.

Chiefs Injury Report

WR Jonathan Baldwin: Thumb, Did Not Participate, Out

The Chiefs' report looks quite clean, but it doesn't include S Eric Berry or TE Tony Moeaki, both of whom are on impact players on injured reserve. 

Key Matchups

Chiefs SS Jon McGraw will be filling in for Berry, and his name should sound familiar to Lions fans. He played in Detroit in 2005 and 2006, and was a valuable reserve/special teamer/spot starter. The Lions may try to attack him with TE Tony Scheffler and WR Titus Young; one presents a size matchup problem, and the other speed.

Lions RT Corey Hilliard ascends to the starting spot after incumbent Gosder Cherilus nearly cost the Lions their season-opening win with an awfully-timed personal foul. Hillard will have to contend with Chiefs DE Tyson Jackson, and LOLB Justin Houston. He'll need to keep Matthew Stafford clean, as Cherilus helped do last week, in order for the Lions' air attack to take off.

Last week, Lions MLB Stephen Tulloch and the rest of the defense nullified Bucs power back LeGarrette Blount. They'll need to do the same this week against Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, an even more dangerous back.